Device for winding sails

ABSTRACT

A device for winding sails comprises at least an outer contoured element wound on and made rigid with an inner contoured element for transmitting a torque required for winding a sail being wound on the outer contoured element.  
     The device allows to wind and unwind large size sails, for bearing arrangements, such as asymmetrical spinnakers, or sails of a same type, such as gennakers or MPS&#39;s.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for winding sails.

[0002] More specifically the present invention relates to a device forwinding large-size bow sails, for bearing or supporting sailarrangements, such as asymmetrical spinnakers or sails of a same type,such as gennakers or MPS's.

[0003] As is known, a very important problem for sailors sailing with areduced equipment, is that of handling bow sails of large size (forexample of the above mentioned types).

[0004] The most frequently adopted prior solution, for facilitating thesail handling, in raising and lowering the bow sails, for bearing largesize arrangements, is that of using a specifically designed jig, called“socking”, holding a sail clamped therein.

[0005] The above mentioned jig usually comprises: a funnel element, madeof an ABS material, rigid with the socking and coupled to areciprocating sheet circuit; a head block; and a sheet circuitreconnected to the head block, in order to handle the ABS funnel elementfrom the boat deck.

[0006] To said block is anchored a strop, to which the sail head andupper part of the socking are coupled.

[0007] The socking is raised up to the head of the mast, and the bottomof the sail is coupled to the tack point and anchored to the controllingsheet.

[0008] The maneuvering allowing an asymmetric spinnaker to be inflatedconsists of operating the reciprocating circuit sheet, to cause thefunnel element to be raised to the head of the mast, while pressing thestocking and freeing the sail.

[0009] In order to close the sail, the reciprocating circuit sheet ismaneuvered in a reverse direction, to cause the funnel element to belowered so as to fully distend the socking clamping the sail.

[0010] The jigs according to the status of the art, however, tend tohinder the maneuverings depending on the wind force.

[0011] In particular, the sailor who must perform the maneuvering mustmove to the bow of the boat, where the operating safety is less, andmust maneuver the reciprocating circuit sheets in order to displacedownward the funnel element, if the sail must be clamped, or upward, ifthe sail must be freed.

[0012] The sheets must be easily accessible, and they must not be woundabout the sail inside the socking.

[0013] The locking of the reciprocating circuit makes very dangerous theoperation for freeing or clamping the sail, both because of the unstableequilibrium conditions affecting the sailor, both because of a possibleanomalous performance of the sail which, if it is not properly tensionedin its working position, can be abruptly deflated and re-inflated again.

[0014] Thus, the drawback associated with a locking of the maneuveringcircuit, is, as stated, very dangerous and difficult to be properlysolved, and compels the sailor to perform emergency operations forrecovering the sail.

[0015] The prior art discloses further winding jigs for windingasymmetrical sails.

[0016] All the prior arrangements provide to design and construct thesail to fit the features of the specific winding systems.

[0017] In actual practice, there are designed very lean sails, such asdrifters and reachers, which can be easily wound, for a boat operationwith the wind blowing on the bow-side of the cross-member.

[0018] In this case, the sails are wound on the contoured element, andare rigid therewith, to be properly tensioned between the tack point andthe halyard.

[0019] The above mentioned systems are specifically suitable for veryswift boats, catamarans or single-shell boats, of very small weight andplanning type, for which the wind blows usually at the bow side of thecross-member.

[0020] In no case the above mentioned systems are suitable to wind sailsfor bearing paces, such as asymmetrical spinnakers of standardconstruction or sails of the same types such as gennakers or MPS's.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide sucha device allowing to wind and unwind sails for bearing paces, such asasymmetrical spinnakers, or like sails, as gennakers or MPS's having astandard construction.

[0022] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of thepresent invention is to provide such an easily used device allowing toraise and lower the sail in a very simple manner, on boats controlled bya controlling crew including a small number of controlling persons.

[0023] Yet another object is to provide a combined windingdevice—flexible sail arrangement having a very small volume to be easilystored.

[0024] Yet another object of the present invention is to allow a sail tobe easily wind on a contoured element without applying any windingtorque, to prevent the sail from being stretched or torn.

[0025] Yet another object of the present invention is to allow the sailto be easily freed or clamped from the boat pit which is the safestposition on the boat.

[0026] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such asail winding/unwinding device which can be made by using easilycommercially available elements and materials.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, the abovementioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which willbecome more apparent thereinafter, are achieved by a sail windingdevice, characterized in that said sail winding device comprises atleast an outer contoured element encompassing an inner contoured elementfor transmitting a sail winding torque, and in that said device furthercomprises at least a sheath contoured element, on which said sail iswound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Further characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent hereinafter from the following detaileddisclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of theinvention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but notlimitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

[0029]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the sail winding device according tothe present invention, being shown in a condition thereof in which theouter contoured element is partially wound on the inner contouredelement and with a detached flap;

[0030]FIG. 2 is a further schematic view, similar to FIG. 1,illustrating the sail winding device according to the invention, withthe outer contoured element being rigid with the inner contouredelement;

[0031]FIG. 3 is a further schematic view similar to the preceding views,and showing a sail winding device including two crossed outer contouredelements;

[0032]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the sail winding deviceaccording to the invention; and

[0033]FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevation view of the device applied toa boat sail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] With reference to the number references of the above mentionedfigures, the sail winding device, according to the present invention,which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprisesan outer contoured element 4, wound on or encompassing an innercontoured element 3, designed for transmitting thereto a torque requiredfor winding a sail 9.

[0035] The device further comprises a so-called sheath contoured element7, arranged outside of the mentioned contoured elements 3 and 4.

[0036] The inner contoured element 3 comprises, for example, a sheet orrope, whereas the outer contoured element 4 comprises, for example, aflexible strip wound on the sheet and made rigid therewith.

[0037] The sheath contoured element 7, in turn, comprises, for example,a flexible strip, having a suitable size and a tubular configuration,the thickness of which is increased by a plastics material film.

[0038] The sail winding device 1, in particular, can be applied to asail winding system comprising, as main components thereof, a rotatablehead 2, including a halyard attachment end portion 21, an innercontoured element attachment end portion 22, a asymmetric rudder sailrotary spring catch 23 and a stop or detent element 24.

[0039] The detent element 24 prevents the torque provided by the windingsystem from subjecting to torsion the halyard.

[0040] The inner contoured element 3, made rigid with the outercontoured element 4 of the winding device 1, is coupled to the rotaryhead 2 by a fitting 31 and being coupled to a winder 6 by a fitting 32.

[0041] The sheath contoured element 7 is coupled to the inner contouredelement 3 rigid with the outer contoured element 4 only at the headpoint 77.

[0042] The winder 6 comprises an attachment fitting 61 for coupling tothe boat deck (not shown), and a continuous winding system 63 includinga rope circuit 64 for winding or unwinding the sail.

[0043] On the winder 6 is supported a rotary base 5, including a springcatch 51 for the asymmetric sail base.

[0044] The rope continuous circuit 64 is looped to the boat pit by asuitable looping system, of a per se known type.

[0045] The operating principle of the disclosed system is based, from adynamic standpoint, on winding the sail, starting from the sail head,under the torque applied to the rotary head 2 by the inner contouredelement 3 rigid with the outer contoured element 4 transmitting theoperating torque.

[0046] Said outer contoured element 4, in particular, is driven by thewinder 6 which, in turn, is driven from the boat pit by the rope circuit64, whereas the spring catch 51 of the sail does not follow the windingmovement, since it is rigid with the rotary base 5.

[0047] Thus, the sail is wound on the sheath contoured element 7, drivenby the spring catch 23, the sheath 7 being in turn driven by the rudderpoint 77.

[0048] The sail winding is performed from the top to the bottom: inother words, it is at first wound the head portion of the sail and thenthe central portion of the sail, up to entrain the rotary point 51 ofthe sail base.

[0049] The sail portion coupled to the control rope 8 is consequentlywound, by operating the winding system.

[0050] The operating principle of the system, during the sail unwinding,is based, from a dynamic standpoint, on the sail deployment actionstarting from the pulling force provided by the control rope 8.

[0051] The inner contoured element 3, made rigid with the outercontoured element 4, while holding the required flexibility during thesail storing operation, is adapted to provide the required torque to therotary head 2, with a “delay” of few revolutions.

[0052] In particular, the sheath contoured element 7 is designed forwinding the sail, without deforming or tearing it, both during thewinding operation, and during the storing of the sail to a restcondition.

[0053] In particular, the sheath contoured element 7 is so designed asto provide the torque for unwinding the sail, while removing the controlrope 8 from the rotary center thereat said sail is wound.

[0054] The winding device 1 comprises, as stated, an inner contouredelement 3, constituted, for example, by a rope, and an outer contouredelement 4 constituted, for example, by a flexible strip wound on therope and made rigid therewith.

[0055]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a sail winding device 1 comprising two crosstiers of outer contoured elements 104 and 204, wound on an innercontoured element 103.

[0056] The number and arrangement of the outer contoured elements willdepend on the desired flexibility and, in general, on the requiredcharacteristics, according to the type of sails to be used and accordingto the boat to which the device is applied.

[0057] The sheath contoured element 7 can assume a conic configuration,having its base downward directed, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, inorder to allow the sails to be easily wound and unwound.

[0058] It has been found that the sail winding device according to theinvention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0059] In fact, the inventive sail winding/unwinding device allows toeasily wind/unwind sails for bearing paces, such as asymmetricalspinnakers, or the like sails, such as gennakers or MPS's, of standardconstruction.

[0060] The device according to the invention, as mentioned, can beeasily used and allows to simply raise an lower the boat sails, even ifthe boat crew comprises a small number of persons.

[0061] Moreover, the inventive device remarkably improves the safety forthe boat crew during the sail maneuvering operations, in particular forlarge size sails such as asymmetrical spinnakers or the like sailarrangements, such as gennakers or MPS's.

[0062] A further important advantage of the inventive device is that itgreatly simplify the boat maneuvers while providing a great operatingsafety for the boat crew.

[0063] The above mentioned characteristics would allow the boat crew touse much more frequently the intended sails.

[0064] In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as thecontingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements andthe status of the art.

1. A sail winding device, characterized in that said device comprises atleast an outer contoured element encompassing and made rigid with aninner contoured element designed for transmitting a winding torque to asail being wound on a sheath contoured element.
 2. A sail windingdevice, according to claim 1, characterized in that said inner contouredelement comprises a sheet or rope.
 3. A sail winding device, accordingto claim 1, characterized in that said outer contoured element comprisesa flexible strip wound on said inner contoured element and made rigidtherewith.
 4. A sail winding device, according to claim 1, characterizedin that said device comprises two crossed tiers of said outer contouredelements wound on an inner contoured element.
 5. A sail winding device,according to claim 1, characterized in that said sheath contouredelement comprises a flexible strip, of tubular configuration, having athickness increased by a plastic material film.
 6. A sail windingdevice, according to claim 1, characterized in that said device can beapplied to a winding system comprising a rotary head having a halyardfitting, an inner contoured element fitting, a rudder asymmetric sailrotary spring catch and a detent for preventing the winding systemtorque from twisting the halyard.
 7. A sail winding device, according toclaim 1, characterized in that said outer contoured element is maderigid with said inner contoured element and is coupled to the rotaryhead by a coupling fitting and to a winder through a further couplingfitting.
 8. A sail winding device, according to claim 1, characterizedin that said sheath contoured element is coupled to said outer contouredelement rigid with said inner contoured element only at a head point. 9.A sail winding device, according to claim 7, characterized in that saidwinder comprises an attachment fitting for connection to a deck of aboat and a continuous winding system including a rope circuit forwinding or unwinding the sail, said winder supporting a rotary basehaving a spring catch for the asymmetric sail bottom.